Adventure Uppsala: Insights into a Semester Abroad

Dominique and Philipp from the bachelor's program in Industrial Engineering & Management report on their experiences at Uppsala University

“We would like to give you a little insight into our semester abroad in Uppsala, Sweden. Here in the far north, the days are getting shorter and colder. It's already dark by 3:30 p.m. and it takes a certain amount of willpower not to go straight to bed after university. In the beginning, we often went swimming at the lake or outside, but now life is moving more and more indoors.

Uppsala - a city that inspires

The city of Uppsala is an ideal place for both of us. It is neither too big nor too small, reminds us a little of Innsbruck and is perfect for exploring by bike. Students' bikes here are often in poor condition and constantly in need of repair, but apart from that, cycling here is great. You can also get out into nature quickly, which is a welcome change from city life.

Our university - the Ångströmlaboratoriet

Our university is the modern Ångströmslaboratoriet. Here in Sweden, emphasis is placed on scientific work, whereby practice-oriented topics are also addressed in group work. There are students here from all over the world, sometimes you get the feeling that there are more international students than Swedes themselves. The university is equipped with comfortable seating for study groups, and best of all, there are what feels like 1,000 microwaves for lunch breaks!

The Nations - a place full of life

Uppsala has a lot to offer students. There are a total of 13 so-called “Nations”, originally founded as associations of students from different Swedish regions to find like-minded people. Today, the Nations organize a wide range of activities by students for students. Most of them are located in impressive, historic houses in the middle of the city and have a pub where parties are regularly held. Choosing the “right” nation was a difficult decision at first, but fortunately as a member of a nation you can take part in the events of all nations.

Nations - Unions - Sections

In addition to the Nations, there are also Unions and Sections, which also organize numerous activities and events. All technical courses have so-called overalls in different colors, which are worn proudly, be it at university, at parties or pub crawls. The overalls are personalized with your name and collect numerous patches over the course of your studies.

Traditions and the Gasque

Uppsala is known for its lively party culture and crazy traditions. One of the highlights is the “Gasque” - a festive dinner where you are only allowed to attend in elegant clothing. We've been to a few gasques and it's fun every time! There is a lot of singing, and even though we don't understand most of the Swedish songs, we sing along loudly. Gasques often have different themes - another example of the Swedish passion for themes - so it never gets boring.

Excursions

Excursions to Stockholm, just 35 minutes away by train, are also part of our program. Stockholm is a beautiful city and definitely worth a visit! There is also an organization called ESN (Ersamus Student Network), which offers numerous excursions. These include, for example, the ESN Sea Battle, trips to Swedish/Finnish Lapland or to the Norwegian Fjords.

Everyday university life and looking forward to the mountains

We both have a lot to do at the moment, more than in Innsbruck. That's why we're already looking forward to when the semester is over. And of course, we're looking forward to having the Nordkette and the mountains on our doorstep again soon. Everything is a bit different here than in Austria, but that's what makes it so exciting. We are happy to have chosen Uppsala as a place to study and to be able to gather all these unique experiences.

To name just a few more of the crazy events:

- Life in a student corridor - more chaotic than orderly

- The legendary “Flogsta-Scream”, where all the residents of a student neighborhood scream out the windows every night at 10 pm

- The mesmerizing Northern Lights that light up the sky

If you have the opportunity to experience Uppsala for yourself, we highly recommend it!”